Showing posts with label shingon. Show all posts
Showing posts with label shingon. Show all posts

Friday, July 11, 2025

Yokomineji Temple 60 Shikoku Ohenro Pilgrimage

 


At 745 meters above sea level, Yokomineji, temple 60, is the highest of the pilgrimage temples in Ehime, and the second highest of all the 88 pilgrimage temples.


I visited in February about 11 years ago and in the autumn there had been a major storm that severely damaged the trail up the mountain.


On the lowest slopes of Mount Ishizuchi, Yokomineji is one of the Henro Korogashi.... hard to reach temples, and with the path blocked by storm debris it was even more so ......


Said to have been founded by famed and legendary founder of Shugendo, En no Gyoja, in 651.


Gyoki, nd then a century later Kobo Daishi, also visited.


Almost to the shrine you pass the Furubo Jizo-do. There used to be a small settlement in the area as during the Edo period this was a well travelled road.


Yokomineji has quite a complex history not made easier by the reconfiguring of the Jaoanese religious landscape in the latter half of the 19th century.


When Enno Gyoja founded it he carved a statue of Zao Gongen, the main deity of what is now Shugendo. Later when Kobo Daishi came he carved a Dainichi statue and made it the "main image".


What seems certain is that it was a syncretic site with both kami and Buddhist elements. A report from the 17th century writes of a Zao Gongen main shrine, and a Kaisan-do dedicated to Sekisen, and a hall dedicated to Dainichi and Kobo Daishi.


In early Meiji all the Buddhist elements were removed and a new temple hall built near the Niomonto house them. This was called Omineji.


What was Yokomineji Temple became a branch shrine of Ishizuchi Shrine and a temple at the base of the mountain became the 60th pilgrimage temple.


By 1909 it was reinstated as Yokomineji Temple, though the observant notice that the architecture remains shrine-style.


The statue a few photos above is a Hoshiku Daishi. Holding a sword, I believe this represents Kobo Daishi performing a star ritual when he visited here. It stands on the site of the former Kaisan-do.


I did not spend much time exploring as it was very cold and there didn't seem to be anyone around. I certainly saw no other pilgrimas.


As I was about to leave it started snowing. 


On the way down I stopped in at Tsumashiro Daimyojin Shrine.


The guardian deity of the temple, many of the crude torii had rotted and collapsed.


The previous temple on the pilgrimage was Koryuji, the 10th bangai temple.


Sunday, June 22, 2025

Saigoku-ji Extra Temple on the Chugoku Kannon Pilgrimage

 


As well as the main 33 temples, the Chugoku Kannon Pilgrimage also has, like many pilgrimages, "extra" temples on the route not part of the 33.


In Onomichi, Saigokuji is one such temple. The previous example was Tanjoji Temple in Okayama.


Saigokuji is a huge complex, approached by a long road lined with cherry trees so very spectacular in season.


The Niomon dates back to 1648 and has a fine pair of Nio guardians.


A giant pair of straw sandals measuring more than 2 meters hang there and are the symbol of the temple.


From the Niomon 108 steps lead up to the main temple.


The temple claims to have been founded by Gyoki in the early 8th century.


Most of the temple burned down in 1066 but was restored under the orders of Emperor Shirakawa.


He made it an Imperial temple and it became the largest temple complex in the Sanyo Region with over 100 branch temples.


It remains the largest temple in Onomichi.


The temple was burned down again in the late 14th century. The current Kondo, Golden Hall was rebuilt in 1386 and is an Important Cultural Property.


The pagoda was rebuilt in 1429 and is also an Important Cultural Property.


The Jibutsu Hall, above, has an entry fee to enter, so not sure what is on display.


The main hall is free to enter.


The honzon is a Yakushi Nyorai. It is an Important Cultural Property, but is a Secret Buddha, so cannot be seen.


There is a "stand-in" in front of the curtain that hides the shrine holding the honzon.


As well as being on the Chugoku Kannon Pilgrimage, Saigokuji is also on the Sanyo Flower Temple Pilgrimage, The Chugoku Yakushi Pilgrimage, and the Bingo Kannon Pilgrimage.


Other halls within the complex are the Fudo-do, Bishamon-do, Daishi-do, and a Miroku-do.


The previous post in this series on day 10 of my walk along the Chugoku Kannon Pilgrimage was on the nearby Jodo-ji Temple complex.










Tuesday, June 17, 2025

Gardens at Jodo-ji Temple Onomichi

 


Jodo-ji is an ancient temple said to have been founded by Prince Shotoku Taishi in the early 7th century.


Many of the current buildings date to the early 14th century and two are Nationl Treasures.


Surprisingly Jodo-ji is located nowhere near Kyoto or Nara, but in the old port town of Onomichi in Hiroshima.


On this visit I was walking the Chugoku Kannon Pilgrimage and Jodo-ji is temple number 9.


Next post I will cover the temple, but for now I focus on the garden.


The garden only dates back to the Edo Period.


Dated to 1806, the designer was Hasegawa Senryu, claimed to be a 13th generation descendant of Sesshu the famed artist and garden designer.


Curious as there were no records of Sesshu having any children.


Generally it is considered a karesansui garden, although a narrow waterway, barely visibly, runs between the area of raked gravel and the artificial hill.


Overlooking the garden is the teahouse Rotekian.


This was originally located inside Momoyama Castle by Hideyoshi.


It was moved here in 1814.


Unfortunately, the garden around the teahouse is rarely open to the public.


There is also a smaller South Garden, photos below....








The previous post in this series was on the ferry ride getting to Onomichi